17³Ô¹ÏÍøÔÚÏß

For 30 years Dal has been training nurses at its Yarmouth, N.S. campus. Now, the daughter of a member of the first graduating class is following in her mom’s footsteps. ForÌýStephanie Pitman (BScN’99)Ìýand her daughter,ÌýTylar Pitman, the opportunity to train and practiceÌýinÌýYarmouth empowersÌýthem to care for their home community.

Dr. Carman Giacomantonio (BSc'87, PGM'97, MSc'98)Ìýis the Gibran & Jamile Ramia Endowed Chair in Surgical Oncology Research. His drive to advance cancer treatment is deeply personal andÌýhe'sÌýat the forefront of the research set to make a lasting difference.

The fifth annual Stanfield Conversation probed how the rule of law is being subverted.ÌýYale academicÌýand former FBI Special AgentÌýAshaÌýRangappaÌýand Schulich School of LawÌýProfessor Emeritus Wayne Mackay wereÌýpanelists in the ‘Talking Democracy’ lecture. It wasÌýmoderated by journalist andÌýCBC producerÌýMary Lynk (BA'84).Ìý

The Canada Day announcement of new inductees to the Order of Canada recognized the exceptional achievements of 17³Ô¹ÏÍøÔÚÏß alumni in academia, law, medicine, and public health.Ìý

Suspended from the ceiling of the Steele Ocean Sciences Building at Dal is the skeleton of an adult blue whale found washed up in Nova Scotia. It is theÌýcentrepiece of the Beaty Centre for Marine Biodiversity and a powerful reminder of the need to protect our ocean and its inhabitants.

TheÌýAurumÌýAwards celebrate 17³Ô¹ÏÍøÔÚÏß alumni whose innovation, leadership, and community engagement make a global impact. This year’s four recipients are trailblazers in exploration, invention, and advocacy.Ìý

Notable alumÌý±·´Ç²ú³ÜÌý´¡»å¾±±ô³¾²¹²ÔÌý(µþ´¡'95)Ìýhas taken what he learned at Dal and in Halifax about building performing arts communities to the next level with the drop-in singing sensation Choir! Choir! Choir!

Frank Brown (BSc'91, BEng’94, BEd’95)ÌýcelebratedÌý30 years of teaching mathematics at 17³Ô¹ÏÍøÔÚÏß’s Faculty of Open Learning & Career DevelopmentÌýthis year, giving students the freedom to construct their own learning through rigorous problem solving and discovery.

Dr. Don Oliver (LLB’64, LLD’03)Ìýwas aÌýlawyer, lifelong advocate for racial equality,ÌýandÌýthe first Black man to become aÌýCanadianÌýSenator.ÌýDonald Oliver’s professional accomplishments led to five honorary degrees, memberships in the Order of Nova Scotia and Order of Canada, and dozens of other medals and awards.

Dal Social Anthropology and International Development Studies gradÌýMichelle Wang's (BA'24)Ìýlocal activism led to national recognition.ÌýShe'sÌýdriven by a passion for community service and academic excellence.Ìý

Dal Alumni Days 2025 offered a mix of panel discussions, networking, and socializing opportunities. Held May 22 to 24, we welcomed hundreds of alumni back to campus for five events.

Karen HudsonÌý(MES’02),ÌýDr. Franklin SimÌý(MD’65), andÌýPaul GauthierÌý(BSc’94)ÌýhaveÌýmuch in common:Ìýthey'reÌýall Dal alumni, they allÌýhaveÌýNova Scotia roots,Ìýthey’reÌýall innovative, and now they are all 2026 17³Ô¹ÏÍøÔÚÏß honorary degree holders.

One hundred years after her great grandmother graduated from Dal,ÌýSophie Watts (PhD’23)Ìýdid the same. Not only is she the fourth generation of women in her family to earn a Dal degree,Ìýshe’sÌýalso carrying on their tradition of making a difference.

Paulette Cameron’s (BEDS’19, MArch’21)ÌýDancing Between the LinesÌýexhibitionÌýimmersed visitors in her Prix de Rome research, exploring the transformative role of women in architecture through drawings, interactive installations, and recorded interviews.

Perry Borden (LLB'02)Ìýwas the first person in his family to not only enter university but to graduate from high school. Now, thisÌýSchulich Law alum and chief judge of the Provincial Court of Nova Scotia, has a history of standing up for his beliefs.

What’s the best treatment for the leading cause of natural sudden death?ÌýTurns out,Ìýit’sÌýnot the current go-to drugs. A study by Dal alum Dr. John Sapp (MD’94) shows a procedure called catheter ablation is 25 per cent more effective at treating ventricular tachycardia — prompting a global rethink of cardiac care.

In the lead up to International Women’s Day, alumni, students and friends attended 17³Ô¹ÏÍøÔÚÏß’s 7th annual Women in STEM networking event to celebrate and connect generations of women breaking barriers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Peter Chow (BSc’70, BScPh’72)Ìýremembers how lonely the holiday season could be for an international student at Dal. By supporting the International Students Holiday Dinner, he hopedÌýto make things merry and bright for them.

WhenÌýJakub Orzechowski (BComm’03)Ìýcame to 17³Ô¹ÏÍøÔÚÏß, he was looking for a way to create a brighter future for himself. He found that and much more when he received the Christopher Stuart Fraser (S.F.) McKee Award of Merit.

The Faculty of Engineering’s Inclusive Pathways to Engineering Careers clears a path for Indigenous and African Nova Scotian and Black students to thrive academically. A $1M+ gift from the Johnson Scholarship FoundationÌýhelpsÌýmake that possible.

Accessing affordable mental health care is a struggle faced by thousands ofÌýNovaÌýScotians. With donor support, a Dal community clinic serves low-income clients while providing students with valuable clinical training experiences.

Alan Hayman, K.C. (BComm’65, LLB’67), recalls countless happy hours in the original Dal rink. Through his support of the new Oulton-Stanish Centre, he hopesÌýhis grandkids and the community will have the opportunity to experience that same joy.

Niran Foster (BScAg’19) is committed to improving food security in Nova Scotia, offering affordable, healthy produce through his family farm. He also champions sustainable agriculture practices as a mentor.Ìý

Science student Isaac Bahler is fascinated by climate innovation.ÌýHe’sÌýalso an Academic All-Canadian and was Dal's 2025 Student Entrepreneur of the Year for leadership of an ocean tech startup.Ìý

TheÌýFall 2025 issueÌýshared news andÌýfeature stories,ÌýshowcasedÌýground-breaking research, illustrated philanthropy's impact at Dal and highlightsÌýalumni changemakersÌýin their communities.